Under The Dome 4/22/2025

Rhode Island Mourns the Loss of the Senate President Dominick Ruggerio 

The business community mourns the loss of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio who lost his battle with cancer Monday, April 21, 2025.  President Ruggerio was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and was the longest serving member of the Senate.  He took the helm as President in 2017. 

In 2022, President Ruggerio received The Northern Rhode Island Chamber’s Barbara Burlingame Award, an award given to a Rhode Island elected official who made outstanding contributions to the business community. At that time Northern Rhode Island Chamber President & CEO Liz Catucci praised the Senate President calling him a longtime supporter of the Chamber, demonstrating a willingness to work with the business community on significant legislation such as education reform, corporate taxation and economic development. 

“The East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce joins the rest of the Rhode Island businesses community in mourning the loss of Rhode Island Senate President Dominick Ruggerio.”, said Stephen M. Lombardi East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. “President Ruggerio was a great supporter of the Rhode Island small business community and we appreciate his willingness to listen to our concerns. His attendance at many of our Rhode Island Chamber Coalition events, including the Legislative Reception, was greatly appreciated. He will be missed”. 

Revenue Estimating Conference Begins This Week 

Each year the fiscal staffs of the House, Senate and Governor meet in the Spring to debate and reach consensus on the State’s fixed expenses as well as revenues for the upcoming year.  This year’s process begins Friday, April 25th with the Caseload conference.  The conference ends Friday, May 9th when the final numbers will be set and the race to complete a budget begins.  Monday, April 28th may be of particular interest as the State’s economists will outline their forecast for the national economy and Rhode Island’s economy.  Below is a full agenda of the meetings: 

Friday April 25, 2025 – Testimony  

9:00 A.M. ​Cash Assistance Caseload  

Services for Private Community Developmentally Disabled Caseload  

1:00 P.M. ​Medical Caseload Executive Office of Health and Human Services 

Monday, April 28, 2025 – Economic Overview and Testimony  

9:00 A.M. ​US and RI Economic Forecasts – Moody’s Analytics  

RI Labor Market Conditions – Department of Labor and Training  

Consensus Economic Forecast  

10:30 A.M. ​Lottery Receipts - Department of Revenue, Division of Lottery  

Commerce Corporation Tax Credits – RI Commerce Corporation  

Monday May 5, 2025 – Caseload Estimates and Testimony  

9:00 A.M. ​Caseload Estimating Conference  

2:00 P.M. ​Tax Collections – Department of Revenue, Division of Taxation  

Accruals – Department of Administration, Office of Accounts and Controls  

Friday, May 9, 2025 – Revenue Estimates  

9:00 A.M. Revenue Estimating Conference (this meeting is an all-day meeting) 

To watch the Revenue Estimating Conference go to: https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/ 

Meeting Materials will be made available on the General Assembly website at https://www.rilegislature.gov/Special/rcc/Pages/rcec.aspx or http://omb.ri.gov/REC 

This Week At the State House 

Thursday, April 24th 

Gift Card Fraud 

H.6212, An Act Relating to Commercial Law – Gift Card Fraud https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H6212.pdf adds the crime of larceny to anyone that acquires or retains a gift card of less than $1,500 with the intent to use the card without the owner’s permission.  A potential fine of up to $1,000 may also be assessed.  Higher penalties exist for cards valued over $1,500 or for multiple violations in any six-month period. Testimony may be submitted at HouseJudiciary@rilegislature.gov